So Many Stars in the Night - A Review of Katatonia's Sky Void of Stars EP

Katatonia is a band that has grown on me throughout the past decade. Upon discovering them when they were regularly compared to bands I already appreciated like gothic metal bands The Vision Bleak, The Old Dead Tree and Paradise Lost, I wasn't particularly impressed by the quintet's moody gothic rock soundscapes. However, this band's very own melancholic, melodic and sluggish style has impressed me more with every contact and I have now even purchased rarities such as this little extended play released with German metal magazine Legacy.

As its title and cover indicate, this output promotes Katatonia's upcoming thirteenth full length studio output Sky Void of Stars. First and foremost, this extended play offers two tracks from said record with ''Atrium'' and ''Austerity''. Both songs find the perfect balance between gloomy, introspective and thoughtful atmosphere and airy, mysterious and sluggish musicianship that does just enough to qualify as gothic metal. Both songs are catchy right from the start and then grow with every spin. Simply stated, the two new songs represent all the qualities that make Katatonia stand out. If you like these two songs, you have dozens to discover but if you don't like them, you can ignore everything this band has been doing for the past two and a half decades.

Up next come two excellent cover songs with Judas Priest's ''Night Comes Dawn'' and Enter the Hunt's ''Fighters''. The former is a traditional heavy metal band and the latter a rather unknown Swedish progressive rock band. These two songs represent Katatonia's inspirations and soundscapes very well as the Swedish quintet finds the right balance between heavy and gothic metal inspirations and progressive and even psychedelic rock influences. Katatonia have managed to make both songs sound like their own as they blend in fluidly and smoothly with the rest of the material.

The final two songs ''Foresaker'' and ''Liberation'' have been recorded in concert more than a decade ago. However, these songs sound timeless and certainly deserve to be listened to. The Swedish quintet sounds a little bit grittier, heavier and straighter in concert without letting go off its atmospheric, captivating and eerie vibes. The crowd reacts very well to these two songs which makes for a dynamic listening experience.

As you can read, Katatonia's Sky Void of Stars EP is certainly worth your attention if you are already a fan of the band or if you like anything between psychedelic rock and gothic metal. This release offers an excellent mixture of compelling new songs, creative cover versions and captivating live songs. The six songs presented here entertain from start to finish through twenty-four minutes and make you want to hit the repeat button as soon as the listening experience is over. Needless to say that the band's full length effort Sky Void of Stars can't come soon enough and that another tour through North America would be very welcome indeed.

Final Rating: 90%